Rocking hinge bearing system for isolating structures from dynamic/seismic loads
OwnerRichard Lee Osmun, Nien-Yin Chang +1inventors
InventorsRichard Lee Osmun, Nien-Yin Chang, Shingchun Trever Wang
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Abstract
A rocking hinge bearing system is provided. The rocking hinge bearing system comprises a first base plate, a second base plate, and a compressible member. A pintle mechanism is required to align the first base plate, the second base plate and the compressible member and to prevent relative horizontal movement between the first base plate, the second base plate and the compressible member. A tensioning mechanism inhibits axial separation of the first base plate relative to the second base plate and helps to return the first base plate into its original position relative to the second base plate after rocking.
Claims12
A rocking bearing assembly for supporting a structure, the structure having a first support in a first position relative to a second support in a second position, the bearing assembly comprising:
- a first base plate mounted to the first support of the structure, the first base plate having a first aperture;
- a second base plate mounted to the second support of the structure, the second base plate having a second aperture, the first aperture alignable with the second aperture;
- a first compressible member positioned between the first and second base plates, the first compressible member having a compressible member aperture alignable with the first aperture and the second aperture;
- a pintle member having a pintle aperture, the pintle member mounted within the first aperture, the second aperture, and the compressible member aperture;
- and
- tensioning means extending through the pintle aperture for tensioning the first support to the second support in the first position;
- wherein upon rocking movement of the first support relative to the second support, the first support returns to the first position and the second support returns to the second position;
- and
- wherein the rocking bearing assembly is configured such that there is no relative horizontal movement between the first and second base plates.
A rocking bearing assembly for supporting a structure, the structure having a first support in a first position relative to a second support in a second position, the bearing assembly comprising:
- a first base plate mounted to the first support of the structure, the first base plate having a first aperture;
- a second base plate mounted to the second support of the structure, the second base plate having a second aperture, the first aperture alignable with the second aperture;
- a first compressible member positioned between the first and second base plates, the first compressible member having a compressible member aperture alignable with the first aperture and the second aperture;
- a pintle member having a pintle aperture, the pintle member mounted within the first aperture, the second aperture, and the compressible member aperture;
- and
- tensioning means extending through the pintle aperture for tensioning the first support to the second support in the first position;
- wherein upon rocking movement of the first support relative to the second support, the first support returns to the first position and the second support returns to the second position;
- and
- wherein the rocking bearing assembly is configured to allow primarily relative rocking movement between the first and second base plates without any relative horizontal movement between the first and second base plates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.